With the cost of flights, accommodation, and everyday expenses continuing to rise, many holidaymakers are asking the same question: Does when you book really make a difference to how much you pay?
The short answer is yes. Timing can play a major role in securing better value, whether you are planning a sunny European escape, a family holiday during school breaks, or a long-haul adventure. Understanding when prices tend to rise and fall can help you stretch your budget further and make smarter travel decisions from the beginning.
The Best Time of Year to Book Flights for Less
Getting the timing just right when booking your flights is important. Holidaying outside of peak times will generally get you the best value fares, so if you can travel outside of school holidays and the summer months, you’ll notice the price difference when comparing. Doing this months in advance is beneficial as you’ll usually find better deals than leaving it to the last minute.
Summer, Easter and Christmas are typically the most expensive times to fly due to higher demand, but can be unavoidable for those with families. If you can travel during shoulder seasons such as late Spring or early Autumn, this can usually be the times that airlines will reduce prices to help fill seats whilst still giving you mild weather (depending on your destination).
The best thing to do is to keep an eye on prices outside of peak booking windows and stay flexible with your travel dates, as this can significantly increase your chances of securing a cheaper fare.
Is Booking Early or Last Minute Cheaper?
Whilst booking early has its benefits, you may find that sometimes you can get a great last-minute deal that saves you hundreds. However, this will depend on how flexible your travel plans are. If you can leave booking until much later and be able to jet off with just a few weeks or even a few days’ notice, you may benefit from waiting, but as there are no guarantees, this can be risky. If travelling as a family, booking early is much less stressful and will also help save on the overall costs when arranging a package holiday, especially during peak periods.
Last-minute deals can work well for more flexible holidaymakers who are open to different destinations and departure dates. Availability can be limited, however, and popular routes may sell out entirely. Sometimes, airlines may even increase prices closer to departure dates on popular routes or peak times, so for most people, booking in advance generally offers greater peace of mind and value.
How Seasonality Impacts Holiday Prices
Unfortunately, you may find that the most popular times of year to go away are also the most expensive. Prices can rise significantly for the summer months as well as during half-term around Easter and Christmas. If you don’t have to travel during this time, you have the benefit of finding a cheaper alternative. As a family, you’ll have to be a bit savvier to avoid overpaying for your holiday.
As mentioned already, travelling during shoulder seasons can offer excellent value. Demand is much lower, so prices for flights and accommodation will generally drop. It’s no surprise that the CCPC’s travel research for 2026 found that those with children under 18 had an average holiday spend twice as high as those with none, so being able to avoid peak prices can make a difference.
Smart Booking Days and Times That Can Lower Costs
So, if you want to pay less, you’ll need to plan ahead. Whilst there is no guaranteed day or time that will always deliver the cheapest flights, being aware of booking patterns can help you find better value.
Prices often fluctuate throughout the week, with midweek bookings sometimes offering lower fares compared to weekends, when demand is typically higher. According to Skyscanner, booking flights on Tuesdays and Wednesdays can often cost less due to reduced midweek demand, especially when compared to travel at the weekend. Early morning or late evening searches can also reveal price changes after airlines update their fares. If you are looking at peak summer travel, towards the end of August and early September may be cheaper when compared to earlier in the summer too, as there will be less demand.
As mentioned above, flexibility is one of the biggest cost-saving tools when booking. Being open to flying midweek rather than at the weekend, or adjusting your departure and return times, can unlock noticeable savings. Using price comparison websites is helpful here, as is setting up fare alerts so you don’t have to constantly refresh and check booking sites. Regularly checking routes from different airports in Ireland can also help you spot dips in pricing before they disappear.
Planning Ahead Beyond Flights: Protecting Your Holiday Investment
Finding a great deal on flights and holiday packages is an important part of saving money, but smart holiday planning goes further than this. Once you have committed to dates, accommodation, and booked activities, your holiday becomes a considerable investment of both time and money. Unexpected issues such as flight delays, cancellations, illness, or lost luggage can quickly turn a well-planned trip into a costly experience if you are not prepared for them.
Putting protection in place as soon as your trip is booked is advisable. Choosing a reliable travel insurance policy from providers such as Staysure safeguards your travel plans from the unexpected, providing reassurance that flight cancellations or emergency medical expenses will not derail your holiday budget. Planning for the unexpected alongside securing good value for flights means you can travel with greater confidence, knowing your holiday is protected as well as affordable.
Common Booking Mistakes That Cost Holidaymakers More
Even the most experienced travellers can fall into common booking traps, and these small oversights can quickly add unnecessary costs to an otherwise well-planned holiday.
• Waiting too long to book popular routes: holding out for a last-minute deal can lead to higher prices or limited availability, particularly during school holidays, summer travel, and popular European destinations.
• Focusing only on the headline price: low initial fares can quickly increase once extras such as baggage, seat selection, and airport transfers are added, making the final cost much higher than expected.
• Ignoring flexible booking options: choosing the cheapest non-flexible fare may seem like a saving, but it can become expensive if plans change and amendments or cancellations are required.
• Overlooking alternative departure airports: flying from or returning to a different airport can sometimes offer better value, yet many travellers only check their nearest option. Compare costs between flying to and from Dublin and Shannon airports, and see if this helps to bring costs down.
• Not comparing total trip costs: small price differences across flights, accommodation, and any add-ons can add up quickly when viewed as a full holiday package rather than individual bookings.
• Leaving travel protection until the last minute: delaying travel insurance until just before departure can mean missing out on cover for issues that arise soon after booking, potentially increasing overall costs.
• Forgetting to check passport expiry in time: the cost of renewing your passport isn’t cheap, with a standard passport costing €75. If you leave this too late, you’ll have to pay more for an express service.
Booking Smarter and Travelling with Confidence
There are lots of different elements that will contribute to the true cost of your holiday, and when travelling as a family, you’ll want to find savings where you can. Planning with plenty of time is by far the best way to make savings on travel, and if you can avoid peak dates, you can enjoy even more savings.
Take your time to compare options, monitor prices online, and think beyond the initial booking costs so that you can budget accordingly and have all costs covered. With smart timing and planning, you can make the most of your travel budget, make small adjustments to trim costs, and feel satisfied you’ve got the best value for your holiday.
